Celebrating Leeds’ Diverse Community Heritage

The Leeds Civic Trust Community Heritage Fund invested over £140,000 in 8 Leeds Community Organisations in 2022. A year into their grants, almost 480 people have already engaged in grassroots activity that celebrates the best of Leeds and our diverse communities. 

Leeds is full of rich and diverse histories, heritage and stories, and these two-year grants are enabling communities to share and celebrate these across the city. From a public exhibition that amplifies the voices, stories and histories of people with learning and neuro-diversities to tours uncovering the music-related history of a 19th century Wesleyan chapel, exciting activities are underway. 

Of the people who have taken part in these projects, 109 people have reported an increased sense of belonging and 112 people have reported improved social connections. 

One organisation, Jamaica Society Leeds, used their grant towards ‘Rebellion to Romance’ – an exhibition based at Leeds Central Library, which captures and celebrates the lives of second generation West Indian communities in Leeds. Having launched in July 2022, the exhibition garnered significant audiences, including a visit from King Charles. Following this visit, the exhibition was extended by one week, to accommodate a greater audience. They estimate as many as 5,000 people attended, and the library noted an increase in borrowing from their reggae and Jamaican music collection. 

One attendee said “The exhibition is beautiful….before today I did not have a lot of knowledge of the influence of the Black community on British culture in the 1980s, but now I do. Thank you for being a beautiful hub of education.” 

Additionally, Jamaica Society Leeds delivered two Jamaica Heritage Trails, led by Joe Williams. Supported by 12 new volunteers, the trails followed local community-history timelines, and each were fully booked, enjoyed by 70 people in total. 

Activity funded by The Leeds Civic Trust Community Heritage Fund continues until 2024, and we look forward to sharing more about the impact then. In the meantime, you can catch Martin Hamilton, Director of Leeds Civic Trust, and Kate Singleton, CEO of St Luke’s Cares who were funded through the programme, on our #GiveLoveLeeds podcast episode Investing in Creativity: The Importance of Funding Arts, Culture, and Heritage Community-Based Projects.